Propounder of PROUT, Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar (1922-1990)
Socio-economic Teachings of P.R. Sarkar
A Brief Assessment of Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar’s Work
PROUT and Its Propounder
The Persecution of Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar and Prout
Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar’s Social Cycles, World Unity and Peace, J. Galtung
Locating Sarkar: Economy, Epistemology, and Social Theory, S. Inayatullah
“Sarkar, in his own way, is more than the equal of the great historian Arnold Toynbee. Sarkar not only illuminated the growth and inevitable decline that comes from the ‘acquisitive-Capitalist’ stage in societal evolution that has now deeply infected the West, but offers wise counsel on what to do instead.” – Oliver W. Markley, Professor of Human Sciences, University of Houston at Clear Lake
“Sarkar’s theory is far superior to Adam Smith’s or that of Marx.” – Johan Galtung, Founder UN Institute of Peace Studies
“P.R. Sarkar was one of the greatest modern philosophers of India.” – Giani Zail Singh, former President of India
“Sarkar, who did more than thirty years of studies and practical concrete work with the poor population of India, is very important for all who yearn for a liberation which starts from economics and opens to a totality of personal and social human existence . . .” – Leonardo Boff, Brazilian founder of Liberation Theology
A story
It was early 1973. While Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar was in Bankipore Jail and sessions court had quashed the case against him in the committal proceedings, the authorities became frantic. Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI) representatives started frequenting Sarkar’s cell to disturb and/or to persuade him to change his mind in search of a compromise solution. Sarkar was firm. The news of quashing was out and the press and the media personnel became active.
The CBI Director in-charge of Ananda Marga cases, Mr. Hingorani, was once hounded by the press corp at the jail gate as he came out at the end of one such visit to Sarkar’s cell. They asked him a direct question, “Sir, we haven’t had a glimpse of Shrii Shrii Ananadmurti ji [the spiritual name that Sarkar used as the Guru og Ananda Marga movement] but you have met him many times. Is he really God incarnate, as they say?”
Hingorani replied, “Look, I am not a believer and neither have I seen God in my life with whom to compare Anandamurti ji or say whether he is really the One.” “But one thing I can assure you”, Hingorani continued, “I have seen and have known humans of all kinds for that’s my training, job and profession.” Then, after a pause he said,”He is not any kind of human that I know of. Definitely He is not a human being. The rest is for you to draw your own conclusions.”
Other sources
Ananda Marga on Sarkar
Wikipedia on Sarkar
Beacon of Hope for Suffering Humanity, by Garda Ghista